News
Fury as ex-MP Simon Hart handed peerage
Tell-all book and Nazi graffiti scandal reignite calls for answers
FORMER South Pembrokeshire MP Simon Hart is facing mounting criticism over his appointment to the House of Lords—amid fresh outrage over his decision to publish a revealing political memoir and lingering questions about the “swastika saga” involving defaced campaign material once in his own possession.
Hart, who was MP for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire from 2010 until he stood down last year, appeared on Rishi Sunak’s resignation honours list and is now set to take a seat in the Lords. But his peerage has sparked anger from senior Conservatives, who say Hart breached trust by publishing ‘Ungovernable: The Political Diaries of a Chief Whip’, which contains personal and salacious anecdotes about MPs who confided in him while he held one of the most sensitive roles in government.
The Herald understands that at least one sitting Tory MP wrote to the House of Lords Appointments Commission (HOLAC) in an attempt to block the nomination, arguing Hart had violated the Nolan Principles—guidelines designed to maintain integrity in public life.

In the book, Hart recounts incidents involving MPs caught in compromising situations, including one who allegedly called the whips’ office for help after becoming stranded in a brothel. Critics say the publication undermines the confidential nature of the whips’ office, which exists partly to offer pastoral support to MPs during times of personal crisis.
Former defence minister Sir Alec Shelbrooke branded the book “appalling” and said it risked breaking the trust that Parliament depends on: “If MPs can’t trust the whips, the system will break down,” he said.
But questions about Hart’s judgement don’t stop there.
Back in 2019, The Pembrokeshire Herald revealed that Hart had shared an image of a defaced campaign poster—infamously bearing the phrase “WILL STARVE YOUR NAN AND STEAL HER HOUSE!”—which had been further altered with Nazi swastikas at some point between its original appearance in 2017 and its reappearance two years later during Hart’s re-election campaign.

Mr Hart had kept the already-defaced poster in his personal possession during that time, and critics pointed out that the two swastikas—absent from the original image—were added while the sign was no longer in public display. Hart refused to explain the additions, dismissing questions from the Herald as “totally outrageous” and claiming it was political mischief by opponents.
Local campaigner Jim Scott, who spotted the differences between the 2017 and 2019 images, asked: “Who had access to the sign in those two years? And why were the swastikas added later?”

The incident caused national embarrassment and raised eyebrows in Westminster, especially as Hart leveraged the graffiti controversy to campaign for civility in politics and even secured a seat on the parliamentary Standards in Public Life Committee on the back of it.
Despite these controversies—and his refusal to address them publicly—Hart has now been rewarded with a life peerage.
One former Tory MP told the BBC: “You’d expect a chief whip to get a peerage, but doing so after publishing a book like that? It’s very odd.”
Hart has not responded to requests for comment from The Pembrokeshire Herald this week. His publisher, Pan Macmillan, also declined to issue a statement.
Campaigner Jim Scott said: “As if it wasn’t a bad enough indictment on our ‘so called’ democracy in the UK that we still have an unelected second chamber in Westminster which wields huge legislative power.
“What does it say about the British establishment and our political systems as a whole that a former MP who drew Swastikas on his own election boards purely to get attention is then rewarded with a peerage to this archaic institution.”
“The House of Lords should be scrapped and replaced with a democratic and representative alternative.
“As should the corrupt process of awarding positions solely based on the favours they have earned to their respective political Parties.
“Hart may well know ‘where the bodies are buried’ within the Tory party but this is arguably a terrible reason to give this morally reprehensible person more power within any British institutions.”
“To date, Hart has never offered a rational explanation as to how the Swastikas appeared on his own election boards, surely this matter should be satisfactorily resolved before any such position was granted”
Meanwhile, former immigration minister Kevin Foster labelled Sunak’s honours list “a reward for failure,” describing it as “a list of Sunak’s mates.”
The Herald stands by its original reporting on the swastika poster and continues to invite Mr Hart to offer a full and credible public explanation.
News
Parliament narrowly backs move towards UK-EU customs union
A TEN Minute Rule Bill calling for the UK to negotiate a customs union with the European Union has passed its first Parliamentary hurdle after a knife-edge vote in the House of Commons.
The proposal, brought forward by Liberal Democrat Europe spokesperson Al Pinkerton MP, was approved by a single vote on Tuesday after the Commons split 100 votes to 100, with the Deputy Speaker using their casting vote in favour of the Bill proceeding.
The Liberal Democrats described the result as a “historic victory”, arguing it sets an important parliamentary precedent for closer post-Brexit trading ties with the EU.
The vote saw 13 Labour backbenchers break ranks to support the proposal, alongside MPs from the Liberal Democrats and Plaid Cymru. In Wales, six MPs voted in favour, including Plaid Cymru’s Liz Saville Roberts, Ben Lake, Llinos Medi, Ann Davies, and Liberal Democrat MP David Chadwick, as well as Labour’s Tonia Antoniazzi, the MP for Gower.
However, the majority of Welsh Labour MPs chose not to back the measure. Among those abstaining was Henry Tufnell, Labour MP for Mid and South Pembrokeshire, who did not vote either for or against the Bill.
Other Welsh Labour MPs who abstained included representatives from Cardiff, Swansea, Llanelli, Neath, Newport, the Valleys and north Wales constituencies.
Economic impact of Brexit cited
The Liberal Democrats pointed to analysis from the House of Commons Library, commissioned by the party, which estimates the UK is losing around £250m a day in tax revenue as a result of Brexit-related economic impacts.
The party also highlighted concerns about the effect of Brexit on Welsh trade, citing research suggesting the volume of Welsh exports to the EU fell by around 31% between 2019 and 2024, while EU imports into Wales declined by approximately 20% over the same period.
They argue that small and medium-sized businesses in Wales are particularly exposed to additional trade barriers with the EU, given Wales’ historic reliance on European markets.
Speaking after the vote, Welsh Liberal Democrat Westminster spokesperson David Chadwick MP said the result reflected growing pressure for a change in the UK’s trading relationship with Europe.
“Across Wales, people are crying out for real change and a solution to the cost-of-living crisis,” he said. “A customs union with the EU is the single biggest step the government could take to grow our economy, put money back into people’s pockets and generate billions for our public services.”
Government position unchanged
The vote does not change government policy, and Ten Minute Rule Bills rarely become law without government backing. Labour ministers have so far ruled out rejoining the single market or customs union, citing commitments made during the general election campaign.
However, the narrow margin and cross-party support are likely to add pressure on the government as it seeks to “reset” relations with the EU through negotiations on trade, defence and regulatory cooperation.
For Pembrokeshire, where agriculture, food production, tourism and small exporters form a significant part of the local economy, the debate is likely to resonate, particularly among businesses affected by post-Brexit paperwork, costs and delays.
The Bill will now proceed to a second reading at a later date, though its long-term prospects remain uncertain.
Crime
Van driver avoids ban after speeding on A48
A VAN driver who was caught speeding on the A48 near Nantycaws avoided disqualification after magistrates accepted that a ban would cause exceptional hardship to others.
Norman Andrew Chapman, aged 59, of Rock Drive, Gelli, Pentre, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Dec 15).
Chapman admitted driving a Ford Transit 350 panel van at 68mph on a dual carriageway subject to a 60mph limit for that class of vehicle. The offence occurred at 1:05pm on April 2 and was detected using laser equipment.
The court heard detailed mitigation outlining Chapman’s caring responsibilities. He helps care for his housebound mother, who is on oxygen, and has taken on additional responsibilities while his brother undergoes cancer treatment. Magistrates were also told he assists a lifelong friend with panic attacks by taking her shopping, and that losing his licence would jeopardise his employment and potentially affect his employer’s business.
Finding exceptional hardship, the court decided not to disqualify Chapman.
He was fined £193, ordered to pay £400 in prosecution costs, and had three penalty points added to his driving licence.
Crime
Harassment case against Milford Haven man dismissed
A HARASSMENT case against a Milford Haven man was dismissed after prosecutors offered no evidence.
David Daley, aged 45, of Murray Road, Milford Haven, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Dec 15) for trial.
Daley had denied a charge of harassment without violence, relating to allegations that between October 28 and October 30 he persistently sent unwanted messages and attended at the home address of a female in Prioryville, Milford Haven.
No evidence was offered by the Crown Prosecution Service, and the charge was formally dismissed by the court.
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